Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes a cold air generator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a storage chamber configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator, and store at least one food and ice stuffs. Further, the refrigerator includes a storage chamber door configured to open and close an access point to the storage chamber. In addition, the refrigerator includes an inner frame coupled to the storage chamber and configured to move at least a part of the storage chamber in forward and backward directions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean ApplicationNo. 10-2009-0049003, filed on Jun. 3, 2009, which is hereby expresslyincorporated by reference in its entirely.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

In general, a refrigerator uses cold air produced as refrigerantvaporizes and absorbs heat from the air.

In detail, the refrigerant is compressed at a compressor, and forwardedto an evaporator via an expansion valve, where the refrigerantvaporizes. The refrigerant absorbs heat from surroundings in such avaporizing process, and cools down surrounding air to produce the coldair.

The cold air is forwarded to the refrigerating chamber or the freezingchamber for maintaining the refrigerating chamber or the freezingchamber to be below a fixed temperature.

Depending on arrangement of the refrigerating chamber or the freezingchamber, in the refrigerators, there are a top mount-type refrigeratorin which the freezing chamber is arranged on the refrigerating chamber,a bottom freezer type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber isarranged under the refrigerating chamber, and a side by side typerefrigerator in which the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamberare arranged side by side. Above categorization is just forconvenience's sake, but not absolute ones.

The bottom freezer type refrigerator has an inside space partitionedwith a barrier, an upper side of which is the refrigerating chamber anda lower side of which is the freezing chamber.

In general, the refrigerating chamber has at least one refrigeratingchamber door rotatably mounted thereto to open/close the refrigeratingchamber, and the freezing chamber has a drawer structure which isslidably moved back and forth to open/close the freezing chamber.

In general, in rear of the freezing chamber and the refrigeratingchamber, there are the evaporators and fans for blowing the cold airrespectively, for generating the cold air individually to controltemperatures of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber,respectively.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air generator configuredto generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a storage chamberconfigured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator,and store at least one food and ice stuffs. The refrigerator furtherincludes a storage chamber door configured to open and close an accesspoint to the storage chamber. In addition, the refrigerator includes aninner frame coupled to the storage chamber and configured to move atleast a part of the storage chamber in forward and backward directions.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the refrigerator further includes a drawing out deviceconfigured to move the inner frame in connection with opening andclosing of the door. The drawing out device includes a link deviceconnected to the door and the inner frame. The link device includes afirst link connected to the inner frame and a second link connected tothe door. The inner frame includes an upper surface positioned at upperside from a center of the refrigerator and slidably connected to a topwall surface of the storage chamber and a lower surface positioned atlower side from the center of the refrigerator and slidably connected toa bottom wall surface of the storage chamber.

In some examples, the inner frame includes a top sliding unit slidablyconnected to a ceiling surface of the storage chamber and a bottomsliding unit slidably connected to a bottom surface of the storagechamber. The at least a part of the storage chamber comprises theplurality of shelves and/or drawers that are mounted in the inner frame.The storage chamber includes at least one of a refrigerating chamber anda freezing chamber. The refrigerator further includes a protectorconfigured to prevent the refrigerator from falling down when the innerframe moves in the forward and backward directions.

In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air generatorconfigured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes astorage chamber having a moving member, configured to receive the coldair generated by the cold air generator, and store at least one food andice stuffs. The refrigerator further includes a door configured to openand close the storage chamber, wherein the moving member is configuredto be moved in forward and backward directions in response to openingand closing of the door.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the moving member includes an inner frame configured to beslidably moved in the forward and backward directions and a movingstructure mounted in the inner frame, and configured to be movedtogether with the inner frame. The moving structure includes at leastone a shelf and a drawer. The refrigerator further includes a drawingout device configured to move the moving member responsive to openingand closing of the door. The drawing out device includes a link deviceconnected to the door and the inner frame.

In some examples, the storage chamber includes at least one of arefrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The refrigerator furtherincludes a protector configured to prevent the refrigerator from fallingdown when the moving member moves in the forward and backwarddirections. The refrigerator further includes a motor configured toprovide a driving force to the moving member to move the moving memberin response to opening and closing of the door.

In yet another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air generatorconfigured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes astorage chamber having a first moving member and a second moving member,configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator,and store at least one food and ice stuffs. The refrigerator furtherincludes a first door configured to open and close at least a part ofthe storage chamber, wherein the first moving member is configured to bemoved in forward and backward directions in response to opening andclosing of the first door. In addition, the refrigerator includes asecond door configured to open and close at least a part of the storagechamber, wherein the second moving member is configured to be moved inforward and backward directions in response to opening and closing ofthe second door.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the first moving member includes a first inner frame configuredto be slidably moved in the forward and backward directions and a firstmoving structure positioned in the first inner frame, and configured tobe moved together with the first inner frame. The second moving memberincludes a second inner frame configured to be slidably moved in theforward and backward directions and a second moving structure positionedin the second inner frame, and configured to be moved together with thesecond inner frame.

The second moving member is a part of the first moving member. The firstdoor is a refrigerator chamber door and the second door is at least oneof a home bar door and a basket door. The first door is a refrigeratorchamber door and the second door is a freezing chamber door.

In some examples, the first and the second door are independently openedand closed. The storage chamber comprises at least one of arefrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The refrigerator furtherincludes a third door configured to open and close at least a part ofthe storage chamber and a third moving member configured to be moved inforward and backward directions in response to opening and closing ofthe third door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a refrigerator when a refrigerating chamberand a freezing chamber are opened;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an inner frame,shelves and drawers mounted therein;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a state in which arefrigerating chamber door and an inner frame are connected with a linkdevice in a door closed state; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views of sliding structures of theinner frames, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific implementations ofthe present technology, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 5. Wherever possible, the samereference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to thesame or like parts.

A refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 is a side by side door type refrigerator,wherein a freezing chamber 10 is on a left side and a refrigeratingchamber 20 is on a right side.

The refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing chamber 10 areopened/closed by a refrigerating chamber door 21 and a freezing chamberdoor 11, respectively. In inside walls of the refrigerating chamber door21 and the freezing chamber door 11, there are shelves and so on forstorage, respectively. And, there are an ice maker mounted to thefreezing chamber door 11 and a home bar mounted to the refrigeratingchamber door 21.

Mounted in spaces of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber10, there are storage structures 30 and 40, respectively. The storagestructures and 40 are mounted to be movable in front/rear directions inthe refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing chamber 10.

Since it is required to secure spaces for placing the ice maker or thehome bar therein at the time the refrigerating chamber door 21 and thefreezing chamber door 11 are closing, front/rear direction depths of thestorage structures 30 and 40 can be determined, taking the spaces to besecured into account.

Each of the storage spaces 30 and 40 includes an inner frame 43 and aplurality of shelves and drawers arranged vertically in the inner frame43, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view showingthe storage structures 30 and 40 moved forward.

The storage structure will be described in detail with reference to thestorage structure 40 mounted in the refrigerating chamber 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, the inner frame 43 includes one pair of verticalsupporting frames 44, a top frame 45 extended from a top edge of thesupporting frames 44 perpendicular thereto, and a bottom frame 46extended from a bottom edge of the supporting frames 44 perpendicularthereto.

There are a plurality of shelves 41 arranged in a vertical direction inthe one pair of the supporting frames 44, and a drawer unit 42 having aplurality of drawers provided therein under the shelves 41.

As a variation, a plurality of drawers can be provided and mounted tothe inner frame 43, individually.

The inner frame 43 is housed in the refrigerating chamber 20. Though theinner frame 43 has a height as high as the refrigerating chamber 20, asa variation, the inner frame 43 can be fabricated to have a height lowerthan the refrigerating chamber 20. That is, the inner frame 43 can befabricated to have a height to occupy a portion of the refrigeratingchamber 20 space, such as an upper space thereof or a lower spacethereof.

Referring to FIG. 4, the inner frame 43 is mounted to be slidable alongwall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber 20 in front/rear directions.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views each showing the inner frame43 mounted such that a top surface and a bottom surface of the innerframe 43 are slidable with respect to a ceiling surface and a bottomsurface of the refrigerating chamber 20, respectively.

In detail, the refrigerating chamber 20 has a top sliding guide 72mounted to the ceiling surface thereof and the inner frame 43 has a topslider 71 mounted to the top surface thereof slidably connected to thetop sliding guide 72. The top slider 71 and the top frame 45 of theinner frame 43 together form a top sliding unit.

The refrigerating chamber 20 has a bottom slider 82 mounted on a bottomsurface, and to match with this, the inner frame 43 has a bottom slider81 mounted to a bottom surface of the inner frame 43. The bottom slider81 and the bottom frame 46 together form a bottom sliding unit.

Owing to above sliding structure, the inner frame 43 can slide in therefrigerating chamber 20 in front/rear directions.

In the meantime, there are link devices 60 and 65 mounted to therefrigerator for making the inner frame 43 to be movable in front/reardirections interlocked to the opening/closing of the refrigeratingchamber door 21.

The link device includes a first link 61 or 66 rotatably connected tothe inner frame 43, and a second link 62 or 67 rotatably connected tothe refrigerating chamber door 21.

The link devices 60 and 65 are mounted to a top and a bottomrespectively, wherein the top first link 61 and the top second link 62are mounted to the top, and the bottom first link 66 and the bottomsecond link 67 are mounted to the bottom.

There can be another means for interlocking the opening/closing of therefrigerating door 21 with the sliding of the inner frame 43. For anexample, a rack gear can be provided to the inner frame 43, and a motorcan be connected to the rack gear through a gear. Accordingly, the motoris made to operate as the door 21 opens, to make the inner frame 43 toslide forward.

In a state the refrigerating door 21 is closed, the refrigerator has theinner frame 43 positioned on a rear side of the refrigerating chamber20, and the home bar and the shelves mounted in the inside wall of therefrigerating chamber door 21 positioned in a front side space of therefrigerating chamber 20. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showingarrangement of the inner frame 43 and the refrigerating chamber door 21in a state the refrigerating chamber door 21 is closed.

In this state, if the refrigerating chamber door 21 is opened, the innerframe 43 slides forward interlocked with the opening of therefrigerating chamber door 21. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective viewshowing a state the inner frame 43 is drawn out to a front side in astate the refrigerating chamber door 21 is opened, fully.

In some examples, the inner frame is moved in forward and backwarddirections in connection with opening and closing the refrigeratingchamber door 21. In the opening operation, after the refrigeratingchamber door 21 is opened to open the refrigerating chamber 20 or whilethe refrigerating chamber door 21 is being opened, the motor provides adriving force to the rack gear to move the closing motor in the forwardor front direction. In the closing state, before the refrigeratingchamber door 21 is closed to close the refrigerating chamber 20 or whilethe refrigerating chamber door 21 is being closed, the motor provides adriving force to the rack gear to move the inner frame in the backwardor rear direction.

In some examples, configuration of the inner frame 43 can be modified.For example, a plurality of the inner frames could be mounted in therefrigerating chamber 20. If the refrigerator has two inner frames, asan example, an upper inner frame may have a height that corresponds tothat of the home bar, and a lower inner frame may have a height thatcorresponds to that of the baskets location. That is, as shown in FIG.3, the refrigerating chamber door 21 may divide two doors, which are ahome bar door 22 and a basket door 23. In this implementation, a usermay independently open and close the home bar door 22 and the basketdoor 23. When the user opens the home bar door 22, the upper inner frameand a corresponded structure (e.g., a plurality of shelves or draws)that is mounted in the upper inner frame move in the forward directionof the refrigerator, and when the user closes the home bar door 22, theupper inner frame and the corresponded structure move in the backwarddirection of the refrigerator. Likewise, when the user opens the bracketdoor 23, the lower inner frame and a corresponded structure that iscoupled to the bracket door move in the forward direction of therefrigerator, and when the user closes the bracket door 23, the lowerinner frame and the corresponded structure move in the backwarddirection of the refrigerator.

Further, in the above implementation, when the user opens therefrigerating chamber door 21, the inner frame 43 and the correspondedstructure 40 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 move in the forward direction ofthe refrigerator, and when the user closes the refrigerating chamberdoor 21, the inner frame 43 and the corresponded structure move 40 inthe backward direction of the refrigerator. In this case, the home bardoor 22 and the basket door 23 may be a part of the refrigeratingchamber door 21. Also, moving structure or structure in connection withthe home bar door 22 may be a part of the moving structure 40. Further,moving structure in connection with the basket door 23 may be a part ofthe moving structure 40.

As a moving structure (i.e., a part of storage chamber) may be moved inconnection with movement of a door, various modifications are possible.For example, two moving members are moved in connection with opening andclosing the refrigerating chamber door 21 and the home bar door 22,respectively. Alternatively, two moving members are moved in connectionwith opening and closing opening and closing the refrigerating chamberdoor 21 and the basket door 23, respectively. The moving members mayinclude the inner frame and corresponded structure or components.

As an example, the home bar door 22 is a part of the refrigeratingchamber door 21. So, the moving member moved in connection with the homebar door may be a part of the moving member moved in connection with therefrigerating chamber door 21.

It is also available that a plurality of moving members in arefrigerators that are independently moved in connection with openingand closing of three or more than three doors.

Since moving member or members are moved in the forward and backwarddirections, the refrigerator may need a protector to prevent therefrigerator from falling down. For example, when the moving structure40 moves in the forward direction of the refrigerator, a lot of stuffscontained in the storage chamber also move in the forward direction.Therefore, it may cause to fall the refrigerator down because arelatively heavy weight was shifted to the front or forward side withina short period. To avoid falling down, the refrigerator may keepcontacting or connecting an adjacent thing, such as a wall, when themoving structure 30 or 40 moves in the forward direction. In thisimplementation, an end of protector (e.g., a string) is connected to therefrigerator and the other end of the protector is connected to the wallsuch that the refrigerator can't be moved away from the wall.

As has been described, since the storage structure mounted in thestorage chamber can be movable in front/rear directions, drawingout/pushing in of a storage object becomes more convenient.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the claims. For example,advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of the disclosedtechniques were performed in a different order and/or if components inthe disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/orreplaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cold air generator configured togenerate cold air; a storage chamber configured to receive the cold airgenerated by the cold air generator, and store at least one food and icestuffs; a storage chamber door configured to open and close an accesspoint to the storage chamber; and an inner frame coupled to the storagechamber and configured to move at least a part of the storage chamber inforward and backward directions.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, furthercomprising: a drawing out device configured to move the inner frame inconnection with opening and closing of the door.
 3. The refrigerator ofclaim 2, wherein the drawing out device comprises: a link deviceconnected to the door and the inner frame.
 4. The refrigerator of claim3, wherein the link device comprises: a first link connected to theinner frame; and a second link connected to the door.
 5. Therefrigerator of claims 1, wherein the inner frame comprises: an uppersurface positioned at upper side from a center of the refrigerator andslidably connected to a top wall surface of the storage chamber; and alower surface positioned at lower side from the center of therefrigerator and slidably connected to a bottom wall surface of thestorage chamber.
 6. The refrigerator of claims 5, wherein the innerframe comprises; a top sliding unit slidably connected to a ceilingsurface of the storage chamber; and a bottom sliding unit slidablyconnected to a bottom surface of the storage chamber.
 7. Therefrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least a part of the storagechamber comprises the plurality of shelves and/or drawers that aremounted in the inner frame.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein thestorage chamber comprises at least one of a refrigerating chamber and afreezing chamber.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: aprotector configured to prevent the refrigerator from falling down whenthe inner frame moves in the forward and backward directions.
 10. Arefrigerator comprising: a cold air generator configured to generatecold air; a storage chamber having a moving member, configured toreceive the cold air generated by the cold air generator, and store atleast one food and ice stuffs; and a door configured to open and closethe storage chamber, wherein the moving member is configured to be movedin forward and backward directions in response to opening and closing ofthe door.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the moving membercomprises: an inner frame configured to be slidably moved in the forwardand backward directions; and a moving structure mounted in the innerframe, and configured to be moved together with the inner frame.
 12. Therefrigerator of claim 11, wherein the moving structure comprises atleast one a shelf and a drawer.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 10,further comprising: a drawing out device configured to move the movingmember responsive to opening and closing of the door.
 14. Therefrigerator of claim 13, wherein the drawing out device comprise a linkdevice connected to the door and the inner frame.
 15. The refrigeratorof claim 10, wherein the storage chamber comprises at least one of arefrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber.
 16. The refrigerator ofclaim 10, further comprising: a protector configured to prevent therefrigerator from falling down when the moving member moves in theforward and backward directions.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 10,further comprising: a motor configured to provide a driving force to themoving member to move the moving member in response to opening andclosing of the door.
 18. A refrigerator comprising: a cold air generatorconfigured to generate cold air; a storage chamber having a first movingmember and a second moving member, configured to receive the cold airgenerated by the cold air generator, and store at least one food and icestuffs; a first door configured to open and close at least a part of thestorage chamber, wherein the first moving member is configured to bemoved in forward and backward directions in response to opening andclosing of the first door; and a second door configured to open andclose at least a part of the storage chamber, wherein the second movingmember is configured to be moved in forward and backward directions inresponse to opening and closing of the second door.
 19. The refrigeratorof claim 18, wherein the first moving member comprises: a first innerframe configured to be slidably moved in the forward and backwarddirections; and a first moving structure positioned in the first innerframe, and configured to be moved together with the first inner frame.20. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the second moving membercomprises: a second inner frame configured to be slidably moved in theforward and backward directions; and a second moving structurepositioned in the second inner frame, and configured to be movedtogether with the second inner frame.
 21. The refrigerator of claim 18,wherein the second moving member is a part of the first moving member.22. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the first door is arefrigerator chamber door and the second door is at least one of a homebar door and a basket door.
 23. The refrigerator of claim 18, whereinthe first door is a refrigerator chamber door and the second door is afreezing chamber door.
 24. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein thefirst and the second door are independently opened and closed.
 25. Therefrigerator of claim 18, wherein the storage chamber comprises at leastone of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber.
 26. Therefrigerator of claim 18, further comprising: a third door configured toopen and close at least a part of the storage chamber; and a thirdmoving member configured to be moved in forward and backward directionsin response to opening and closing of the third door.